17m UK pavement parkers revealed as new parking bans explored

These drivers could be fined up to £1.2 billion if suggested parking bans are agreed

17% of pavement parkers say they pavement park because everyone else does

Two fifths (39%) of drivers currently parking on pavements could be fined up to £1.2 billion if new rules to ban pavement parking are agreed by the Department for Transport, according to a new study released today by Co-op Insurance.*

Perhaps as a result of an increasing number of vehicles per household or period properties having limited parking facilities, currently, three quarters (73%) of drivers agree that parking fully or partly on pavements is the best approach in certain locations to avoid obstructing traffic.

When delving into the reasons these UK drivers are parking on pavements, a fifth (17%) say they’re just copying other drivers when mounting pavements and over a tenth (12%) do so simply to avoid their cars being dinted or scratched.

Just over one in 20 (6%) of drivers partly park on the pavement to avoid kerbing their tyres or alloys and a further one in 20 drivers (6%) say that they struggle parking their cars and so driving up onto the pavement makes it easier for them.

Reasons UK adults provided for parking on pavements:

17% are copying other drivers when mounting pavements

12% do so to avoid their cars being dinted or scratched

6% want to avoid kerbing their tyres of alloys

6% struggle to park so find it easier driving up onto the pavement

Highlighting that parking on pavements has become more common, just a quarter (23%) of drivers say you should not park on pavements.

Furthermore, one in 20 (5%) drivers think that if necessary, vehicles can be fully parked on pavements with other drivers detailing that ‘it doesn’t matter where you park as long as other drivers aren’t obstructed’.

The study highlights a need for further awareness of parking for drivers with over three quarters (76%) saying they’re unaware of any guidance available on parking.

James Hillon, Director of Products for Co-op Insurance said:

“It's no surprise that drivers are finding it more and more difficult to park with an increase in the number of cars on the roads, new housing estates and residents frequently dependent on street parking.

“However, it’s really important that drivers consider the impact their parking can have on communities, as well as the potential cost to them if these proposed fines are agreed.”

Mike Bristow, spokesperson for Brake, the road safety charity, said:

“It’s really important that drivers consider the fact that they are not the only road users. Pavement parking can present a hazard to people on foot, especially in built up, urban areas.

“Co-op Insurance’s study reveals anecdotes such as parents having to push prams into busy roads and wheelchair users unable to get through due to cars parked on pavements and so we’d ask drivers just to be considerate when parking.”

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Notes to Editors

45.5m active drivers on the roads according to latest ONS figures – calculated via 39% of drivers currently parking on pavements. This equates to 17,745,000 drivers. Multiplied by £70 (as this is the proposed fine) this equates to £1.2b.

Department for Transport January 2016 data which reveals there was an increase of 600,000 vehicles on the roads from 2014-2015

Research was conducted by Atomik Research on behalf of the Co-op in March 2017 among 1500 UK drivers